Batman and Robin had just finished patrol, and Robin was about to leave, when Batman stopped him. It would be a lie to say that the vigilante hadn't picked up on the boy's recent behaviour. Ever since that incident at the hall three days ago, Robin had barely talked to him. Also, the thirteen year old had been reckless. Well, more reckless than before, that is. And after nearly getting shot during yesterday's patrol, and getting stabbed into his arm during tonight's patrol, Batman could not let this go. Of course, Robin needed medical attention, as well.

"Robin."

He stopped, not saying anything.

"Come with me to the cave."

Robin turned towards his mentor, his expression hard.

"Why should I?"

"You are injured."

Batman expected Robin to roll his eyes and say he was fine. So, when he just stood there, eyes narrowing slightly, not saying a word, Batman's worry only grew bigger.

"Robin, this is serious. Let me or Agent A bandage you up. Please."

Not only Robin was surprised by his mentor's use of that particular word. But the Dark Knight would do anything for this boy, so he didn't regret his choice of words at all.

"So that's all. Nothing else that you want?"

Robin was good at hiding his emotions, but he couldn't keep that bit of disappointment out of his words. And Batman, being Batman, noticed.

"No, you're right. We need to talk."

His protégé lifted an eyebrow in surprise, but nodded. They sat down in the batmobile, and the older of the two blindfolded his partner as to not give away the location of the batcave. Although that was hardly nessecary, since Robin did not only know the cave's location, but also the Dark Knight's identity.

When they arrived at the cave, Batman wordlessly stepped out of the car, making his way to its other side, opening the door, and telling Robin to get out. After taking off the blindfold, he left the vehicle, and directly made his way to the medical wing of the hero's secret hideout. The thirteen year old sat down on the bed in the center of the room, and slipped off his glove. Batman started gathering all the needed medical supplies to treat his protégé's injury. He then pulled up a chair in front of the boy, and sat down, instantly getting to work on his young partner's arm.

"So, you said we needed to talk."

"Yes."

"About what, exactly?"

Neither of the two seemed to show any emotion as they talked.

"You need to stop being so reckless."

"I'm not being reckless."

Batman lifted an eyebrow that was hidden underneath his cowl.

"Are you trying to prove yourself?"

Robin wasn't thrown off by his mentor's straight-to-business attitude.

"No."

Batman sighed. This boy was as stubborn as himself.

"There is no reason for you to prove yourself to me. You already have all my respect. And not only that, Robin, I care about you. And I don't want you to get hurt."

"Kinda comes with the job."

"That's not what I mean. And you know it."

"Why didn't you tell them?"

The sudden change in subject made Batman pause in his work.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was scared?"

Robin snorted.

"You were scared? Sorry, but I don't get it."

"Okay. So maybe 'scared' isn't the right term. How about troubled?"

"Care to explain that one a bit closer?"

Batman had to fight the constant urge to smile at their similarity. Although, come to think about it, he wasn't sure that was a good thing.

"I figured it would be easier to get through with it if you were already there, than with bringing it up during a League meeting."

"You know, it would be easy for you to just tell them you knew my name, right?"

Batman frowned at that.

"I can't lie to the League."

"Not even for me."

It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Robin-"

"No, it's alright. I get it. Four years of fighting crime together just isn't enough for you to trust me."

Robin took his arm from the Dark Knight, finishing wrapping the rest of the bandage around his arm on his own.

"That's not true. I trust you, Robin. But how can I know if you trust me, as well? You refuse to tell me anything about you. Your name, your school, your home, friends, family! Nothing!"

Batman missed the boy's slight flinch at the mention of his family, as he stood up to follow his protégé out of the room. Robin was heading for the cave's zeta entrance.

"Wait! Stay, so we can figure this out."

However, Batman's last attempt at holding the teen back did not have any success.

"Recognized: Robin-B-0-1"

Batman pulled down his cowl and sighed in frustration.

"What am I doing wrong, my little Robin?"

Turning to get some work done, he wandered over to his computer and started opening the needed files. His thoughts however, still were on the black haired, thirteen year old boy, that had left his hideout not long ago. How did this child manage to find his way so deep into his heart?

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

"Who are you?" Batman demanded, narrowing his eyes at the bodyless voice coming from the darkness around him. It was clearly a child, which troubled him even more.

"Oh, who cares about me. Let's talk about you!"

"Who. Are. You?"

"I heard you're the hero of Gotham. Is that true? What do they call you again? Right, Batman."

The voice's laugh send shivers down the Dark Knight's spine. Which was usually a practically impossible task. Who was this kid?

"I asked you a question."

"Well, yes, I know."

"Then answer. It."

He was seriously starting to grow impatient now. Not that the kid would care.

"Umm... no."

Again, Batman heard the bone chilling cackle echo off the walls of the alley he had parked the batmobile in.

"Hey, can I drive your car?"

Batman blinked. What? He didn't know how old the child was, but it surely couldn't be any older than ten.

"Of course not."

"Huh, well that's a shame. Looks like a pretty cool car. What's it called, the 'Squeelwheel'?" The voice laughed once more. "Get it?"

"What do you want?"

"Isn't that obvious? I want to ride that car of yours, old man."

"You are not riding the Batmobile."

"So that's what it's called. Batmobile. Huh, you name everything something with 'bat' at the front, don't you? I bat you do! Hahaha, get it?"

"Funny. Now tell who you are and what you want."

"Hey, do you also have a 'bat-cave' and a 'bat-jet'? Oh, and you probably call those throwing-thingies you have 'bat-arang' or something. I would prefer birdarangs, though."

"Birdarangs?"

"Yeah, you know, bird instead of bat."

"So, what do you call yourself? 'Birdboy'?"

"Ew, no. How lame would that be? Seriously, almost as bad as 'Batman'."

Batman scowled, which surprised him. It was incredulous how this kid could get under his skin in a matter of a couple of minutes. He was the Batman for goodness sake! He wasn't going to be mentally and emotionally defeated by a ten year old child.

"I'll ask you one more time. Who are you, and what. Do you. Want?

The voice sighed.

"Call me what you want. I'm not telling you my name. And as for what I want... Actually, that's a good question. Huh, whatever. I gotta go now. See ya, Batsy!"

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

"Hey, what's wrong, little bird?"

Batman had stopped on his way to the batmobile when he had not seen his protégé following him. The boy was just standing there, unmoving, staring at something Batman couldn't see.

"Robin?"

The tone Batman used was one reserved for his little bird, and nobody else. The Dark Knight crouched in front of the masked boy who seemed to slowly focus on the man in front of him. It took him a moment to understand why his protégé was behaving like this. He had expected him to be like this at the beginning, but he hadn't put too much thought to it. And now, he didn't know what to do. Because not only was Gotham City's crime rate high, but most importantly did it have criminals you didn't want to meet. Batman was an adult, and even he sometimes got the urge to run (not that he would ever do that, let alone tell anyone about it), but how much worse would it have to be for a nine year old child?

His thoughts, however, were cut short when he felt something press into him, two arms wrapping around his chest. Looking down, he realized the boy was now crying and holding onto him like he was his lifeline. Somehow, the thought warmed his heart, and he couldn't help but imagine the small child running around Wayne manor, giggling, while he ran away from a smiling Bruce, trying to catch his little bird for a tickling-attack.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

"Who told you about that?"

The eleven year old grinned.

"No one."

"Then how do you know?"

The grin on the boy's face widened.

"I may, or may not have hacked into the batcomputer..."

"Robin..."

The child hero held up his hands in defense, expression not faltering.

"Not my fault you made it so easy to get past your security systems." His smile fell, an almost scared look replacing the happy one. "Wait, are you mad at me? I'm sorry. I didn't think, I guess. I won't do it again if you don't want me to, I swear! Batman, I-"

"I'm not mad, Robin."

The Batman's protégé froze.

"What? You're... you're not mad? But I hacked into the batcomputer! How can you not be mad?"

Batman smiled, making Robin tilt his head in confusion.

"I'm far from mad, Robin, I'm proud. I am your mentor, after all. You truly are one smart little bird."

Grin having returned full force, Robin ran forward, crushing his mentor in a hug. Or well, as much as an eleven year old boy could come with crushing the Batman. Without a second thought, the Dark Knight returned the embrace. Although, come to think about it, he couldn't seriously be called dark, with this little child in his arms, all the while smiling like the proud father he was inside.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

He was so deep in thought, that he hadn't even noticed Alfred entering the cave, a tray with tea in hand, and an almost nonexistent frown on his face.

"Master Bruce. How was patrol?"

The Batman was actually startled when he heard the butler's voice, which didn't go unnoticed by Alfred himself.

"Is anything the matter, Master Bruce? You seem a little... troubled, sir."

Bruce ran one hand across his face and replied in a tired manner.

"I'm fine, Alfred."

Alfred raised an eyebrow as he put the plate down next to the billionaire.

"Are you sure, sir?"

Bruce sighed, and leaned back in his chair.

"Actually, no. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about Robin. Sure, the League has always had their worries and suspicions, but now, with the team..."

"Master Bruce, I hardly think this is about the League."

"What do you mean?"

Alfred bestowed him with a knowing look that made Bruce want to disappear.

"I am simply trying to imply that the League might not be the main problem of your worries, sir. Rather does it seem that you, Master Bruce, are starting to lose your trust in the young Master Robin."

Bruce had always found it interesting how Alfred kept saying 'Master Robin', despite the fact that he was only his protégé.

"I am not losing my trust in him. It's just... I wish he would open up to me more. I care about him more than I thought possible, and I don't even know his name!"

Alfred only said one thing after that, before he left the man alone to his thoughts and the bats.

"Trust is a two way street, Master Bruce."

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

I do not own Young Justice or any of the DC Universe characters.